Alfred h



A. H. BOWERS.

(No Model.)

CORSET;

Patented Dec. 25

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N. PETERS. mmmu mn'wm-imm ac ALFRED H. BOWERS, or NEW'HAVEN, 'oonn'notrrenr, Assienon TO IsAAo NEWMAN, or SAME PLACE.

CORSET.

SPEJIFI3ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,843, dated December 25, 1853,

Application filed August 13, 1853. (X model.)

To all whom, it-may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. BOWERS, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a 5 new Improvement in Corsets; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Fignre 1. an outside view of the hip-section; Fig. 2, an inside view of the hip-section; Fig. 3, a transverse section on line 00 ac, Fig. 2, showing the extensions in their re spective pockets; Fig. 4, the two parts 0 D detached; Fig. 5, a vertical section on line 2 z of Fig. 2.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of corsets, the object being to avoid the usual breaking of the bones or stays on the wrist-line; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and more particularly recited in the claims.

In the drawings I show the invention as applied to the hip-section, that being the part of the corset where the greatest difficulty is experienced from the breaking of the bones or stays.

A represents the section in front of the hipsection, and B the section in rear of the hipsection, the intermediate space being the hipsection. This hip-sectionImake in two parts, the two parts being shown detached in Fig. 4. The upper part, 0, extends down nearly to the Waist-line, and the lower part, D, up nearly to the waist-line. The two parts 0 and D are each constructed with tongue-like projections E E, more or less in number. In these projections and the part from which they eX- tend pockets are formed to receive stays a. This is done in the usual mannerthat is to say, by doubling the fabric and running vertical lines of stitches, then introducing bones or other suitable stays. In each of the parts 0 D pockets 1) are made to receive the said projections E E, and so that when placed to gether, as seen in Fig. 5, the projections of the one part enter the corresponding pockets of the other, and when so placed together are free to be moved up and down. The parts of the section thus made are stitched to the respective edges of the front and rear sections, and so as to leave a space, d, between the said two parts 0 D, 'as seen in Fig. 2. WVhen placed upon the person, the projections of these parts are free to work in their respective pockets; hence in bending play is permitted of these two parts 0 D, so that they may contract or expand in height to conform to the shape of the person. Then as the person bends her body to one side or the other that side toward which she bends is permitted to contract under the arm and over the hip, and that on the opposite side to can tend, so that a greater freedom of movement is permitted than can be in a whole side section, but yet the full length of stays is retained. The stays in one part, overlapping the stays in the other part, serve to strengthen each other, and, being permitted to work one upon the other, avoid the breaking strain which must occur in non-adjustable side sections.

To cover or hide the opening between the two parts 0 D, I introduce a band, G, across the side section at that point, and attach it to the front and rear sections, A B, so as to make an ornament to the corset, and at the same time hide the opening; but this band may be omitted.

I have described this invention as applied to the hip-section; but it will be understood that it may be applied at any of the sections where such adjustability is desirable.

I claim 1. A corset having one or more of its sections composed of two parts, 0 D, the one part, 0, arranged at the top and the other 0 part, D, at the bottom of the corset, and stitched to the adjacent sections, each of said parts O D constructed with one or more tongue-like projections, E, extending toward the other part, and each of said parts also 5 constructed with pockets 1) corresponding to and so as to receive the said projections E from the other part, the said parts and their projections providcdwith bones or stays, sub

stantially as described.

2. In a corset, the section composed of two part provided with bones or stays running parts, 0 D, the one arranged at the top and into said projections, and the band G over IO the other at the bottom, and stitched to their the opening between the two parts substanadjacent sections, each constructed with one tially as described.

5 or more tongue-like projections, E, extending ALF-RED H. BOXVERS.

toward the other part, and each part 0011- \Vitnesses: strncted with pockets b corresponding to said J OHN E. EARLE,

projections E from the other part, and each J 0s. 0. EARLE. 

